FitSugar

Echinacea Is Effective, Probably Maybe

FitSugar — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 13:00:00 PDT

Have you been taking echinacea to ward of a cold this Spring? If so you're probably doing the right thing. Maybe.

Newsweek is reporting that new research has found that taking echinacea reduces the chances of getting a cold by 31 percent. And if you've already come down with one, the herb will make you feel better a day and a half earlier - may not seem like a lot but, oh the things I could do in a day in a half. With that being said, there are a few issues with this theory. The first is that researchers are not quite sure which of the more than 200 strains of the cold viruses are affected by echinacea, so it may do absolutely nothing for your cold. Also, echinacea has been found to interact with other medications adversely, so be sure to talk to your doctor before taking it.

Source

Zinc and Echinacea vs. the Common Cold

FitSugar — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 15:30:00 PST

Nobody wants to get stuck with a cold, so when you hear that you can take something simple and inexpensive to prevent a week's worth of misery, why not jump at it? Echinacea and zinc are much buzzed-about when it comes to preventing or shortening the duration of colds, but do they really work?

When it comes to zinc, hundreds of studies have been conducted, including one in 2000, which found that taking zinc lozenges during a cold produced "modest" benefits. A more recent study published by Stanford Medical School analyzed data from 14 previous studies and reported that the effectiveness of using zinc to treat a cold "has yet to be established." Hmm.

Well, what about echinacea? To find out

read more Over the summer, a large study published in the Lancet Infectious Diseases journal said that taking echinacea can reduce your risk of catching a cold by 58 percent. This contradicted an earlier study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, which said that echinacea didn't help at all. It's tough to determine echinacea's effectiveness, because so many parts of the plant are used to make tinctures, teas, and pills. More research definitely needs to be done to figure out what part of the plant is helpful. Fit's Tips: The bottom line is that there really is no consistent opinion about whether zinc or echinacea really benefits you when it comes to colds. During this season of sickness, instead of wasting money on things that possibly help, stick to doing things that are proven to work. Be sure to eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, get your daily supply of vitamin C (75 mg), and get plenty of rest each night. This will help to keep your immune system strong, so if your body does come in contact with germs, it can fight them off so you don't get sick.

Echinacea Proves Medical Worth, Safety Still in Question

FitSugar — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 02:00:00 PDT

Echinacea is a little herb that has been a big topic in the health world for some time now. Does it fight colds or doesn't it? Is it safe or isn't it?

Well according to new reports Echinacea actually does reduce a person's risk of catching a cold significantly (by 58 percent). While the herb also shortened the duration of the average cold, researchers from the University of Connecticut said they weren't sure by how much.

Take this all with a grain of salt since the studies authors said they had only evaluated Echinacea's effectiveness for cold prevention, not the herb's overall safety. Plus if you're on the pill be especially careful since they are still figuring out if the herb can interfere with its effectiveness.

Source

Echinacea: Herbal Cold Remedy Vindicated

FitSugar — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 01:50:00 PDT

Cold and flu season has been officially over for weeks, if not months. However, if you have ever suffered through a summer cold, the new findings on the herb echinacea will certainly be of interest to you.

A new reveiw of 14 clinical studies published in the British Journal "Lancet Infectious Diseases" indicates that echinacea cuts the chance of catching a cold by 58% and can reduce the duration of colds by about a day and a half.

These findings directly contradict last year's study by the National Institute of Health which found echinacea to be ineffective in protecting against the common cold and reducing cold symptoms. The American Botanical Council feels the dosage of the herb used in the NIH tests were too low and this new analysis of past studies obviously indicates that further studies are needed. Especially since the active ingredient of echinacea, derived from the Purple Cone Flower, is still unknown. Also unknown is that proper dosage of echinacea and the most effective form of the herb to take.

So the controversy continues and hopefully we will see more research on this immunostimulating drug soon. Hopefully we will have some answers before the next cold and flu season is upon us.

Source

The Skinny On: Echinacea

FitSugar — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 09:00:00 PST

When I was in college, come cold and flu season, all the hippies I knew started taking their echinacea herbal remedies to boost their immune system. It was like clock work. When I tried it my reaction was just icky-nacea since the taste was so bad.

Well, my tune has changed, at least slightly. Several controlled studies have found that the herb can reduce symptoms of the common cold as well as shorten a cold's duration. That was good news for my runny nose. It is important that the echinacea is prepared as an alcohol extract or a pressed juice.

A bummer for my dear hippie friends, no evidence has been found that echinacea prevents colds or bolsters the immune system. So there is no need to take it on a regular basis to enhance your immunity. I will use anything I can to make my colds shorter. How about you?

The Best and Worst Flu Season Remedies

Prevention — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 04:12:53 PDT

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Prevention here on FitSugar!

Find out which immune-boosting supplements really help — and which are just hype
By the Editors at Prevention

Flu shots, hand washing, healthy eating, and regular exercise are the best ways to avoid cold and flu.

But sometimes even the most scrupulous germaphobes and healthy people get sick anyway. While certain natural remedies can help shorten symptoms — or prevent infection entirely — many people waste money on measures that are all hype. Here's how to know the difference so you can get well faster — without wasting a penny.

The Germiest Spots in Your Home

1. Omega-3 Pill
The Verdict: Help
Take it: All season long
If you don't like or eat a lot of fish, pop an omega-3 supplement daily to reap the fatty acid's impressive immune-fortifying properties. Omega-3s increase the activity of phagocytes — cells that fight flu by eating up bacteria — according to a study by Britain's Institute of Human Nutrition and School of Medicine. Other research shows that omega-3s increase airflow and protect lungs from colds and respiratory infections.

Look for purified fish oil capsules that contain at least 1 g combined of EPA and DHA.

Keep reading for the rest of the list.

DrSugar's Tips For Staying Healthy While Traveling

DrSugar — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 16:00:21 PST

DrSugar is in the house! And she's answering your health-related questions.

How to prevent getting sick while traveling and why it's good to avoid touching your face (eyes, nose, mouth) during cold and flu season.

OK, FitSugar readers, as we all know, it's holiday time, which is a time for fun, family, friends, and celebration! However, it is also the time of year for colds, flu, and travel. Learn my tips and tricks for staying healthy this season when you

read more. With the holiday season gearing up, I'm sure many readers are worried about getting sick while they travel to their holiday destinations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides many useful tips on its website for protecting yourself from the flu (and from other illnesses, if you are traveling internationally). The official CDC recommendation is to get a flu vaccine prior to travel as an important way to protect yourself and others from the flu virus. It also recommends traveling with a "travel health kit," which would be helpful in case you do get sick while traveling, which would include: tissues, pain/fever medicine, soap, and an alcohol-based antibacterial hand rub to use in case soap and water aren't available. The CDC also recommends only traveling if you feel well enough to do so, as if you fly when you are sick you risk infecting others as well as picking up other illnesses given the immune system depression that occurs when you are sick. Finally, it recommends everyday steps to protect your health and the health of others when traveling: cover your coughs or sneezes with a tissue, or sneeze/cough into your upper elbow/upper sleeve and not your hands, wash your hands often with soap and water (if soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based rub), avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, and avoid close contact with sick people. EverydayHealth recommends a healthy diet with lots of antioxidant-rich foods to boost your immune system around and during your time of travel. The website also reports on some of the popular remedies to try to prevent illness such as vitamin C, echinacea, and zinc, as these ingredients have been studied in the medical literature and might keep you from getting sick. "Germ warfare" includes switching seats on the plane (if it isn't full) to a seat away from other people, disinfecting your seat/seat area on the plane, and considering wearing a mask if you or someone you are traveling with is sick. Finally, WebMD reiterates many of the points above, adding these helpful tips for staying healthy whether you're traveling or not: drink plenty of fluids, do aerobic exercise regularly, eat foods rich in phytochemicals (dark green, red, and yellow vegetables and fruits), eat yogurt, don't smoke, cut alcohol consumption, and relax/de-stress (this will improve your immune system!). Hopefully with these tips, you will be able to try to prevent illness during the cold and flu season, especially if you are traveling! Happy holidays to all from DrSugar! Have a question for DrSugar? You can send it to me via private message here, and I will forward it to the good doctor.

DrSugar's posts are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Click here for more details.

Speak Up: How Do You Handle Sick Loved Ones?

FitSugar — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:00:00 PST

Last week I was miserable with a cold - runny nose, zero energy, aches and pains, and horrible congestion. Basically, I was a wreck. Given that the mister was sick the week prior, it's pretty likely he was the giver of my nasty present.

When my loved ones are sick, I usually do my best to take care of them. My mama bear instincts come out, and I totally forget that I'm putting myself in the line of fire. I cook big batches of spicy soups, make sure they have an arsenal of meds at their bedside, and keep them company since they're stuck at home.

A colleague of mine said that the minute anyone in her house gets sick, she wipes down every doorknob and light switch and sticks to limited contact. A friend of mine takes it up a notch and won't even see her boyfriend if he's sick. Everyone else seems to load up on zinc and echinacea in order to protect themselves. Based on these stories, I am now rethinking how I handle sick friends and family. For the record, these two women are remarkably always OK and seem to escape the cold and flu when it's going around. Yet, I always succumb to it even though I keep a very healthy and active lifestyle.

I'm wondering what all of you do when someone close to you gets sick - do you get into nurture mode, practice careful restraint, or banish them to an island?

Do You Use Herbal Remedies?

FitSugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:00:56 PST

I ran into a friend this week who was on his way to an herbal medicine shop to bulk up on tinctures and teas because his wife is sick.

I've dabbled a little bit with herbal remedies - ginger for an upset stomach and echinacea for a cold - but not to the extent that he and his wife do. He said that for minor illnesses they only use herbal remedies, and that they're more effective than drugstore meds.

I'm still dubious about herbal remedies because the research is a bit spotty, but I think there may be some benefits to their use. What do you think of them? If you've had any experiences with using herbal remedies, share your thoughts in the comments section.